neat Graffiti Chelmsford Borough Council is Fighting Help us to achieve cleaner, greener and healthier communities Love Your Environment

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1 neat Love Your Environment Chelmsford Borough Council is Fighting Graffiti Help us to achieve cleaner, greener and healthier communities

2 Graffiti The Law There is no legal requirement for the Council to remove graffiti. Damaging property is a criminal offence and is dealt with by the Police. Those caught causing graffiti can be prosecuted under the Criminal Damage Act If the damage caused is less than 5,000 the maximum fine is 5,000. Young offenders may be given a community service order. If you suspect any individual of committing graffiti, please report immediately to the Police. The estimated cost to the country of removing graffiti is over 1 billion a year. Chelmsford Borough Council aims to provide a response-based graffiti removal service to the public and other agencies/authorities What is graffiti? Graffiti is any writing or drawing scribbled or scratched on a surface. Graffiti can cause distress when it is on private property and sometimes makes people feel they are being targeted or victimised. The service Chelmsford Borough Council provides: We will try to remove all graffiti on street furniture and Council property. However, experience has taught us that our attempts are not always completely successful and that sometimes 'ghosting' remains.we have been unable to remove certain types of paint from perspex.this then leaves a huge cost implication of replacing the perspex. We will endeavour to assist all people who have suffered graffiti on their properties but will not remove graffiti from a private property without the consent of the owner.the Council will actively seek their agreement.this service is free of charge. Free graffiti removal products The Council also provides free graffiti removal products to deal with small areas of graffiti that can be removed without the need for high pressure washing (i.e. graffiti written with spray paint or marker pens from non-porous surfaces tiles, metals, some painted surfaces, glass, plastics, etc.).

3 The aim is to rid the town of illegal and unsightly graffiti, which instills fear in some residents, affects property prices, and generally lowers the tone of the neighbourhood.these DIY Graffiti Removal Kits are available to parish councils and recognised community groups, to assist volunteers in keeping their local vicinity clear of small graffiti markings. Photographs from Graffiti Hotline To request a kit please contact the Neat Officer on for more information. Alternatively if you represent a Parish Council, Community group or Neighbourhood Watch group you may download a request form from the Chelmsford Borough Council website Chelmsford Borough Council does not: Remove graffiti from wooden fences as the results are usually poor and make no improvement. Households are advised to paint over the graffiti themselves using a wooden fence treatment.this also applies to general wooden surfaces (i.e. garage doors) and certain types of other surfaces, e.g. those that have been rendered or pebble dashed.these would also need to be painted over to obliterate the graffiti. Standards and response times We aim to remove graffiti within five working days of it being reported to us. If the graffiti is considered to be of an inflammatory nature, we aim to remove it as quickly as possible after a report has been received. Reporting a problem If you would like to report graffiti please contact us by either: streetscene@chelmsford.gov.uk and provide us with as much detail about the problem as possible, e.g. location, what the graffiti says, how much graffiti there is, etc

4 Phone us on the Hotline number: Submit an on-line Streetscene Report Form by going to the link on Chelmsford Borough Council s website and completing the details requested Write to us at: Streetscene, Chelmsford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JE If you would like to remove the graffiti yourself, and need advice, please contact the NEAT Officer: jackie.lane@chelmsford.gov.uk or telephone: DIY Removal There are a number of methods that can be used to remove small amounts of graffiti.with any removal methods, please complete a test patch, and always follow manufacturer s instruction. There are a number of branded graffiti removal products available for purchase from under 10 which will last for a few applications (depending on area covered). Please ensure that the product you buy is suitable for the surface you are using it on. Suppliers are more than happy to assist in providing advice and guidance as to the correct product for a given surface. Painted Surfaces Lightly abrade surface, clean off residue and over-paint graffiti.this may require 2/3 coats of paint depending on the background colour and the darkness of the graffiti. DO NOT use paint remover, thinners, white spirit or methylated spirit, as this will attack the base paint. Timber Fencing Sand down surface with coarse sand paper and re-stain.

5 Glass White spirit or methylated spirit should remove most paints and marker pen ink. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions for use and safety information before use. DO NOT use abrasive materials or cleaners. Plain Metal The same methods work on metal as for glass; some paint removing products may be suitable. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions for use and safety information before use. Plastic The same methods work on plastic as for glass. Please note that some solvents may have an adverse effect on some plastics. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions for use and safety information before use. Protected Surfaces Graffiti protection coatings are painted on top of natural or painted surfaces to form a protective shield. Graffiti will stick to the protective coat instead of the normal surface. Many different products are available and are usually either clear or sacrificial coats. Clear coat is a long-life, hardened cover similar to a clear varnish or paint, from which the graffiti can be wiped. Sacrificial coats are totally or partially removed with the graffiti. Before purchasing a graffiti protection coating, consider the cost and what product best suits your situation.you may require professional advice. Preventative Measures There are a number of measures that can be taken to protect yourself and your property from mindless criminal damage: Plant a hedge, some shrubs or a hanging plant in front of the fence or wall. Installing trellis will create an uneven surface. Increase visibility at night by installing lighting. Lights with motion sensors are a popular choice as they only activate when a person approaches. Install video surveillance cameras.the possibility of being caught on film is a good deterrent. Tagging is willful damage and therefore a crime. If you see any

6 suspicious activity, report it to the Police.Take a note of the car license plate if possible. If you know someone involved in graffiti crime, inform your local Police. Remove graffiti as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours. One tag tends to attract other tags. Form or join your local Neighbourhood Watch Group and become involved in local initiatives to protect areas targeted by graffiti. Protect exposed walls and fences with a graffiti protection product. Check the Yellow Pages for suppliers. Paint walls or fences in dark colours. Colours that will cover in one coat are most effective e.g. green or brown. If the surface is a lighter colour than the graffiti, you may get a ghosting effect. A painted wall is easier to keep graffiti free because any further tags can simply be painted over. Chelmsford Borough Council is very grateful to Naio Environmental Limited (Landscaping, Forestry and Fencing company based in Great Totham, Essex) for kindly sponsoring the graffiti removal kits. NEAT Officer, Chelmsford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1JE environmental.services@chelmsford.gov.uk Telephone: